More file for election

Beverly Keorner wants to see more females in leadership positions at the city level so she's doing something about it the Eudora resident is running for a seat on the Eudora City Council.

There is currently only one female, Willene Blackburn, on the council.

"I think there needs to be more female representatives on the council," Koerner said. "I just wanted to get involved in the community and I thought this way would be a good way of doing it."

If elected, Koerner said she would like to examine electric rates for Eudora.

"I think that they're too high," Koerner said. "I would just like to see if there is a way to decrease them. I think it hurts the elderly and it really can be a (financial) burden on a lot of people in Eudora."

Koerner said her interest in electric rates started after receiving a $302 bill last summer; the highest she has ever received in her 26 years living in Eudora. She also hopes to look at bringing more businesses to Eudora, as well as problems with older sewer lines in the city. After sewer problems closed Nottingham Elementary for repairs late last year, she took interest.

"What I would like to find out, is this something that's going to be happening more frequently in the older parts of town?" she said. "This is something I'd like to look at for later down the line."

Koerner has worked for Kansas University for the past 31 years. Currently she works as an office specialist for KU. She is also a member of the Eudora Band Parent's Organization.

Given her job experience, Koerner said she thinks she's the right woman for the job.

"I also, in my job, have a lot to do with the budget and I think it might help me in a job on the city council," she said.

Mayor Fred Stewart and council members Rex Burkhardt and Pat Dardis are also at the end of their terms. Stewart has filed for re-election and Dardis has said he would not run. Burkhardt said he would make a decision within the next week.

Koerner isn't the only one with experience who has filed for the upcoming election.

In the Eudora School Board race, board member Bob Rice has filed for re-election.

Rice has spent 12 years on the board. He said he decided to run again because he wants to see the board continue working on projects it has undertaken. As the board deals with growth in Eudora's schools and brings Eudora Middle School up to standard, Rice said he wants to see the issues through.

"There's just a lot of things we're in the middle of here that I want to see through," he said. "It doesn't hurt to have somebody on the board that has some experience. The growth concern is the biggest thing."

Though he hasn't filed at the courthouse yet, Rice said he would file Thursday.

Board member Carlie Abel's term also expires this year, but Abel said he is unsure if he'll run again. Abel said he hoped to make a decision this week.

"I'm kind of on the fence right now," he said. "I'm still really just kicking it up in the air."

Board member Marion Johnson's term also expires this year. Johnson said he would seek re-election.

The filing deadline for the positions is noon, Jan. 23. Interested parties can file at Eudora City Hall or the Douglas County Clerk's Office.